Bill Hicks Was Right

[poliphilo]

I flip onto the Guardian website and there are Mitchell and Webb- those very funny guys- in a banner across the top of the page yammering away about computers- only I've got the sound turned down so I can't hear what they're saying.

Mitchell and Webb are the new kids on the block and I guess they're on a drive to make as much money as they possibly can before they go out of fashion. I can understand that. All the same, whenever I watch Peep Show now- which is arguably the funniest thing on TV at the moment- I have it at the back of my mind that these guys are guns for hire, sell-outs, takers of the corporate shilling.  It's like the programme has aquired an infestation of dry rot.

I'm with Bill Hicks on this one:  once you make an ad you're finished. You're "off the artistic roll-call". No-one is going to believe you ever again. 

OK,  Mitchell and Webb have the excuse that they're young and insecure and hungry.  But what about all those fabulously rich Hollywood stars who go to Japan to make ads they believe (more fool them) their home fan base is never going to see- like Bill Murray's character in Lost In Translation?  There's no way they need the money. They're just greedy. 

Comments

[treehavn.livejournal.com]

My thoughts exactly. I thought the past Mitchell and Webb tv series (not Peep Show, which I've never seen) held some classically funny moments; even rewatching now, I still laugh. But those adverts just make me cringe, even if I did find them funny - I saw a couple in the cinema, they were mildly amusing whilst waiting for the movie - I still hate the idea so much that I can't get over it.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

If they'd limited themselves to voice-overs it wouldn't be so bad- but they've sold their whole image- their whole act- to the Man.

It's such a shame.